From: Gothenburg MunicipalityContact Person: Ulf MobackOrganisation: City of Gothenburg City Planning AuthorityTelephone: +46 (0) 31 368 1674

Email: ulf.moback@stadsbyggnad.goteborg.se

To: Mrs. Helena Molin Valdes, DirectorUnited Nations International Strategy for Disaster Risk Reduction, UNISDRPalais des Nations, CH-1211 Office A-577 (Doors 15 and 17)Geneva 10, SwitzerlandTel. +41 22 9172776, Fax +41.22 9170563

World Disaster Reduction Campaign

Annex II

Nomination form for ”role model” cities and local governments

City description:

Gothenburg is the second largest city in Sweden with a population of about one-half million people. Situated on the west coast of Scandinavia, it has for hundreds of years, been an important harbour town. The city is beautifully situated at the mouth of the Göta River that is the largest river in Sweden.

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Name of Mayor/ Governor / Community Leader Annelie Hulthén Mayor, Jonas Ransgård Deputy Mayour

Major disaster risks:As a growing city, Gothenburg (“Göteborg”) faces major challenges to find solutions for adapting to a rising sea level, more frequent floods. In addition consideration must be taken to slope stability. However, the threats have increased awareness of the risks that the city faces. Significant progress has been made in climate adaptation research and implementation of mitigating measures.

Progress and results:(Main areas of progress, based upon the “ten essentials”)

1. Organisation and co-ordination

Disaster prevention work is a priority, the organization is based on participationGothenburg Municipality has an effective emergency and disaster coordination system. The municipality has also established an interdisciplinary climate adaptation group.

2. Assign a budgetThe ordinary budget for each department covers their responsibilities for risk management.

3. Prepare risk assessmentsInformation on risks and vulnerabilities including risk assessments have been made and are updated regularly. Major slope stability mapping was conducted in 2011 as a complement to mapping made in earlier years. The comprehensive plan for the municipality shows the areas where the highest high tide is expected in the future. Flood risks and risks due to extreme weather are well known in the planning and technical offices.

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Gothenburg City has entered into a partnership with the district administrations for a research project on climate related risks.

4. Invest and maintain infrastructure that reduces risk.

Gothenburg Municipality works with critical infrastructure protection.The Gothenburg Energy Company has secured its major network stations that might be at risk to flooding events. The Gothenburg Water Company is investigating the feasibility of establishing a mechanism to trap small particles in the wastewater treatment plant. Proposed solutions will be discussed with the Swedish Transport Administration which is responsible for maintenance of roads.

Apply and enforce realistic, risk-compliant building regulations and land use planning principles.

There are building regulations and planning standards. The Swedish Planning and Building Act of 2010 require that consideration be taken to climate change adaptation.

5. Ensure that there are education programmes and training on disaster reduction.

There is an effort to increase understanding and awareness of disaster risk as part of the education programs in schools. Risk information is available for the public sector. Several articles have been written on risk issues. There are also more television and radio spots over the past years. The city architect talks about risk mitigation issues to between 1000-2000 people each year.

6. Protect ecosystems and natural buffers to mitigate floods, storm, surges and other hazards

More work is needed to protect natural buffers.

7. Early warning systems and emergency management capacities

There are early warning systems and a crisis management organisation that trains regularly and is prepared to respond to disasters. Gothenburg Water Company established three new water level gauges in the Göta River in 2011. These will be used in the hydrological model where several parameters are considered including, the characteristics of land surfaces, soil composition, water level rising, upstream sources of flooding, surface water flow paths, and sewer network capacity. Areas at risk of flooding such as coasts, rivers, and estuaries and more specifically vulnerable communities and critical infrastructure are also important factors. This data will be used in an integrated tool that will make better forecasts of conditions that can be

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potentially damaging. Such information can also be used for city planning to reduce risks.

8. The need of the survivorsDisasters rarely occur. When they occur, there is an organization that can take care of survivors should a disaster occur.

A local institution that will also be engaged in the CampaignChalmars University, Gothenburg University, Swedish Environmental Institute

The part of the city administration that will be the focal point for the Campaign? Gothenburg Municipality Planning Office

Selected topics to be showcased during the campaignGothenburg Municipality would like to showcase the below two research projects in the United Nations international campaign “Making Cities Resilient”

Research project: Mistra Urban Futures - Center for Sustainable Urban Development Sustainable Development. Description: Mistra Urban Futures is a new center for sustainable urban development that offers innovative solutions through effective and socially relevant knowledge. The center’s work is intended to make a significant contribution to achieving and maintaining good living quality and viable environments in cities around the world. Mistra Urban Future’s strength is the cooperation between research and practical application. The center provides an arena for the development and transfer of knowledge, where collaboration with government and non-government stakeholders from industry is important, as well as input from the public. The centre employs a cross-sector approach to understand how different fields of knowledge interact and improve sustainable development in city planning. The development of climate adaptation strategies is an integral part of the Mistra Urban Future’s work and there are positive implications for building resilience to natural disasters.

Purpose: To develop methods and knowledge to be applied to Swedish cities to manage climate induced risks and to improve their resilience towards climate change.

Objective: By introducing knowledge and research normally not integrated at an early stage in the planning process, goal conflicts and synergies between different aspects, can be identified and implemented.

Partners: This is a cooperative effort between municipal government, university and industry. Philip Thörn, Swedish Environmental Institute IVLUlf Moback, Gothenburg Municipality Planning OfficePer Knutsson, Gothenburg UniversityGreg Morrison, Chalmers UniversityKatarina Buhr, Swedish Environmental Institute IVLHanna Areslätt, Gothenburg Municipality Planning Office-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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Research Project: Adapting cities to climate induced risks - a coordinated approach

Length: 2 years (2011-2012)Description: 84 percent of the population of Sweden lives in cities. Long-term urban planning can enable us to lessen the negative effects of climate change, or take advantage of the opportunities it presents, and so create attractive, secure, healthy and sustainable cities. The purpose of this trandisciplinary project is to develop methods and knowledge to reduce the risks and effects of extreme weather.The urban district in the Gothenburg area: Frihamnen (development area) is going to be analysed from a sustainability perspective.The study will cover several issues, including the risk of high temperatures, poor air quality, landslides and flooding. The project will bring together researchers with specialist expertise within several fields, including measuring and modeling of outdoor thermal comfort, air quality, risk assessment of natural disasters, socioeconomic analyses, multi-criteria analysis and urban planning. The municipality’s City Planning Office and analysis and technology company WSP are also participating in the project.The project is being funded by the Swedish Research Council Formas, the Swedish Energy Agency, the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency, the Swedish National Heritage Board and the Swedish Transport Administration.

Project coordinator: Associate Professor Sofia Thorsson

Research partners:Dr. Fredrik Lindberg and Associate Professor Björn Holmer, Urban Climate Group, Gothenburg UniversityAssociate Professor Yvonne Andersson-Sköld, Swedish Geotechnical InstituteDr Anna Jonsson, Linköping UniversityDr Sara Janhäll, VTI and WSPDr Mira Andersson Ovuka, Hifab ABUlf Moback, Gothenburg Municipality

Achievements in all of the ten essential areas Essential Topic Estimation

1 = poor / nothing2= some progress3= well functioning or not applicable

nr 1 Organisation + coordination 3nr 2 Assign a budget 3nr 3 Prepare risk assessments 3nr 4 Maintain infrastructure that

reduces risk3

nr 5 Safety of all schools + health facilities

3

nr 6 Realistic building regulations and land use planning principles

3

nr 7 Ensure education programmes and 3

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trainingnr 8 Protect ecosystems and natural

buffers2

nr 9 Early warning systems and emergency management capacities

3

nr 10 Needs of survivors are in focus 3

Attachments:Decision from city council (in Swedish)

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